COURTS IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

(Corrected Sept. 1878. Legislature meets in January and May, and may make changes.)

Supreme Court.

Bristol Co., at Bristol, 1st Mond. in Mar., and 2d Mon. in Sept.

Kent Co., at E. Greenwich, 2d Mon. in March and 4th Mon. in Aug.

Newport Co., at Newport, 3d Mon. in Mar., and 3d Mon. in Sept.

Providence Co., at Providence, 4th Mon. Mar., and 1st Mon. in Oct.

Washington Co., at S. Kingstown, 3d Mon. in Feb., and 3d Mon. Aug.

Court of Common Pleas. Bristol Co., at Bristol, 1st Mon. in May, and last Mon. in Oct.

Kent Co., at E. Greenwich, 2d Mon. in Apr. and Oct.

Newport Co., at Newport, 3d Mond. in May and November.

Providence Co., at Providence 1st Mon. in Mar., June, Sept., and Dec.

Washington Co., at S. Kingstown, 2d Mon. in May, and 1st Mon. in Nov.

SUPREME JUD. AND SUPERIOR COURTS IN MASSACHUSETTS. (Corrected Sept., 1878. Legislature meets in January, and may make changes.) Supreme Judicial Court.

JURY TERMS. Barnstable Co., at Barnstable, 1st Tuesday of May.

Berkshire Co., at Pittsfield, 2d Tu.

May.

Bristol Co., at New Bedford, 2d Tu. Nov.; also at Taunton, 3d Tues. April. Dukes Co., at New Bedford, 2d Tues. Nov.

Essex Co., at Salem, 3d Tu. April and 1st Tues. Nov.

Franklin Co., at Greenfield, 2d Tu. April.

Hampden Co., at Springfield, 4th Tues. of April.

Hampshire Co., at Northampton, 3d Tues. of Apr.

Middlesex Co., at Lowell, 3d Tues.
April; also at Cambridge, 3d Tu. Oct.
Nantucket Co., at New Bedford, 2d
Tues. in Nov.

Norfolk Co., at Dedham, 3d Tu. Feb.
Plymouth Co., at Plymouth, 2d Tu.

May.

Suffolk Co., at Boston, 2d Tu. Sept. and 1st Tues. April.

Worcester Co., at Worcester, 2d Tu. April.

LAW TERMS.

A law term for the Commonwealth shall be held at Boston on the 1st Wednesday of January of each year, which term may be adjourned, from time to time, to places and times most conducive to the despatch of business and the interests of the public; and there shall be entered and determined therein questions of law- arising in the counties of Barnstable, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Suffolk; and also all questions of law arising in other counties where special provisions are not made therefor. And law terms of said court shall also annually be held as follows:

Berkshire Co., at Pittsfield, 2d Tues. of September.

Bristol, Nantucket, and Dukes Cos., at Taunton, 4th Tues. Oct.

Essex Co., at Salem, 1st Tues. Nov. Hampden Co., at Springfield, 3d Mo. after 1st Tues. of Sept.

Hampshire and Franklin Cos., at Greenfield, Mon. next after 2d Tuesd. of Sept.

Plymouth Co., at Plymouth, 3d Tu.

Oct.

Worcester Co., at Worcester, 4th Tues. after 1st Tues. Sept.

For the hearing of probate appeals in

the counties of BERKSHIRE, FRANKLIN, HAMPSHIRE, and HAMPDEN, and of all matters pending in said counties in equity and otherwise, which may be heard and determined at chambers, one of the jus tices shall attend at Springfield on the 1st Mond. of Feb., June, Aug., and Dec.

Superior Court.

Barnstable Co., at Barnstable, Tues. next after 1st Mon. of April, and 2d Tues. of Oct.

Berkshire Co., at Pittsfield, (civil) 4th Mon. of Feb., June, and Oct.; (crim.) 2d Mon. of Jan. and July.

Bristol Co., at Taunton, 1st Mon. of March and Sept., and at New Bedford, 1st Mon. of June and Dec.

Dukes Co., at Edgartown, last Tues. of May and Sept.

Essex Co., (civil) at Salem, 1st Mon. of June and Dec., at Lawrence, 1st Mon. of March, and at Newburyport, 1st Mon. of Sept.; (crim.) at Lawrence, 1st Mon. of Oct., at Newburyport, 2d Mon. of May, and at Salem, 4th Mon. of Jan.

Franklin Co., at Greenfield, 3d Mon. of March, and 2d Mon. of Aug. and Nov. Hampden Co., at Springfield, (civil) 2d Mon. of March and June, and 4th Mon. of Oct.; (crim.) 3d Mon. of May, and 1st Mon. of Dec.

Hampshire Co., at Northampton, (civil) 3d Mon. of Feb., 1st Mon. of June, and 3d Mon. of Oct.; (crim.) 2d Mon, of June, and 3d Mon. of Dec.

Middlesex Co., (civil) at Lowell, 2d Mon. of March, and 1st Mon. of Sept.; at Cambridge, 1st Mon. of June, and 2d Mon. of Dec.; (crim.) at Cambridge, 2d Mon. of Feb., and 1st Mon. of June; and at Lowell, 3d Mon. of Oct.

Nantucket Co., at Nantucket, 1st Tues. of July and Oct.

Norfolk Co., at Dedham, (civil) 4th Mon. in Apr., Sept., and Dec.; (crim.) 1st Mon. in Apr., Sept., and Dec.

Plymouth Co., at Plymouth, 2d Mon. of Feb. and June, and 4th Mon. of Oct.

Suffolk Co., at Boston, (civil) 1st Tues. of Jan., Ap'l, July, and Óct. ; (crim.) 1st Mon. of every month.

Worcester Co., (civil) at Worcester, 1st Mon. of March, Mon. next after 4th Mon. of Aug., and 2d Mon. of Dec.; and at Fitchburg, 2d Mon. of June and Nov.; (crim.) at Worcester, 3d Mon. of Jan., 2d Mon. of May, and 3d Mon. of Oct.; and at Fitchburg, 2d Mon. of Aug.

DISTRICT COURTS IN MASSACHUSETTS.

(Corrected Sept., 1878. Legislature meets in January, and may make changes.) No. Berkshire. - For the towns of | Bridgewater, E. and W. Bridgewater, at Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, and Savoy, at Adams, crim., d'Ïy, 9 A.M.; civil, weekly, at north village of Adams, and 1st Wed. of each mo. at south village. Central Berkshire.-For the towns of Dalton, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, Peru, Pittsfield, Richmond, and Windsor, at Pittsfield, crim., daily, 9 A. M.; civil, every Saturday.

So. Berkshire.- For Alford, Egremont, Great Barrington, Monterey, Mt. Washington, New Marlboro', and Sheffield, at Great Barrington, crim., daily, at 9 A. M.; civil, every Sat., at 10 A. M. 1st of Bristol. For Taunton, Rehoboth, Berkley, Dighton, Seekonk, Attleborough, Norton, Mansfield, Easton, and Raynham, at Taunton and Attleborough, Wareham, Lakeville, Marion, rough, crim., daily; civil, every Mon.

MUNICIPAL AND POLICE COURTS IN MASSACHUSETTS. (Corrected Sept., 1878. Legislature meets in January, and may make changes.) Municipal Courts are held daily in the city of Boston, as follows: In Boston (old city), Roxbury District, South Boston, East Boston, Dorchester District, Charlestown District, Brighton District, and West Roxbury District.

Police Courts are held daily at Cambridge, Chelsea, Chicopee, Fitchburg, Gloucester, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lee, Lowell, Lynn, Newburyport,

PROBATE COURTS IN MASSACHUSETTS.

(Corrected Sept., 1878. Legislature meets in January, and may make changes.) Barnstable. At Barnstable, 2d Tu. Jan., Feb., March, Aug., Sept., Dec., and 3d Tues. April and June; Harwich, 2d Mo. af. 1st Tu. May, and Mo. af. 3d Tu.Oct.; Wellfleet, 3d Tu. May, and 4th Tu. Oct.; Provincetown, Wed. af. 3d Tu. May,and Wed. af. 4th Tu.Oct.; Falmouth, 3d Tu. Nov.

Berkshire.-At Pittsfield, 1st Tues. in Jan., Feb., March, April, May, June, Sept., Oct., and Dec., 3d Tu. July, and Wed. after 1st Mon. Nov.; Lee, Wed. aft. 1st Tu.in Jan., Ap., and Oct., and Wed. af. 3d Tu. July; Adams, Th. aft. 1st Tu. Jan. and Oct., Wed. af. 1st Tu. Mar., and Th. | af. 3d Tu, in July; Gr. Barrington, Wed. after 1st Tu. in Feb., May, Sep., and Dec. Bristol. -At Taunton, 1st Fr. Mar., June, Sep., Dec.; New Bedford, 1st Frid. Feb., May, Aug., and Nov.; Fall River, 1st Fri. Jan., Apr., July, and Oct.

Dukes County. -At Holmes' Hole village in Tisbury, 3d Mo. Ap. and 1st Mo. Sept.; Edgartown, 3d Mo. Jan. and July, and ist Mo. Mar. and Dec.; W. Tisbury, 1st Mo. June and 3d Mon. Oct.

Essex. At Salem, 1st Mon. of each mo., and 3d Mon. of ea. mo., except Aug.; Lawrence, 2d Monday Jan., Mar., May, June, July, Sept., and Nov; Haverhill, 2d Mon. Apr. and Oct.; Newburyport, 4th Mo. Jan., Mar., May, June, July, Sep., and Nov.; Gloucester, 4th Mo. Ap. and Oct.

Franklin. —At Greenfield, 1st Tues. in every month, except Nov.; Northfield, 2d Tues. May and Sept.; Orange, 2d Tu. Mar. and Dec., and 3d Tu. June; Conway, 3d Tu. May; Shelburne Falls, 2d Tu. Feb., 4th Tu. May, and 4th Tu. Oct.

Hampden. —At Springfield, 1st Tu. Jan., Feb., March, Ap., May, June, July, Sep., Oct., and Dec.; Palmer, 2d Tues. Feb., May, and Sept., and 4th Tues. Nov.; Westfield, 3d Tu. Feb., May, Sept., Dec. Hampshire. -At Northampton, 1st Tues. of every mo.; Amherst, 2d Tues. Jan., Mar., June, Aug. and Nov.; Belehertown, 2d Tues. of May and Oct.; and Williamsburg, 3d Tues. May and Oct.

Middlesex.-At Cambridge, 1st, 2d, and 4th Tu. ea. mo. ex. Aug.; Lowell, 3d Tu. Jan., Mar., May, July, Sep., and Nov. Nantucket.-At Nantucket, on Th. aft. 2d Tu. of every mo.

Norfolk. At Dedham, 1st and 3d Wed.; Quincy, 2d Wed., Hyde Park, 4th Wed. every mo. exc. Aug.

Plymouth.-At Plymouth, 2d Mon. ev. mo., ex. July and Aug.; Wareham, 4th Mon. Oct.; E. Bridgewater, 4th Mo. Feb. and Dec.; Hingham,4th Mo. Mar.; Middleboro', 4th Mon. Jan. and Ap., and 2d Mon. July; Abington, 4th Mo. May, Aug., and Nov.; Hanover, 4th Mo. June; Bridgewater, 4th Mo. Sep.; North Bridgewater, 3d Mon. April and Oct.

Suffolk.-At Boston, every Monday in the year, exc. 2d and 4th Mon. in Aug. Worcester. At Worcester, 1st and 3d Tu. of every mo. except Aug.; Fitchburg, 4th Tu. ev'y mo. exc. July and Aug.; Milford, 2d Tu. of Ap. and Sep.; Templeton, 2d Tu. of May and Oct.; and Barre, Wed. next after 2d Tu. of May and Oct. When the appointed day falls on a holiday, the court will be holden by adjournment at such time and place as the judge may appoint.

COURTS OF INSOLVENCY IN MASSACHUSETTS. Courts of Insolvency in Mass. are held by the Probate Judges in each county, at times appointed by themselves.

Middlesex Co., Geo. M. Brooks, Concord.
Nantucket Co., Thaddeus C. Defriez,
Nantucket.

JUDGES OF PROBATE COURTS IN MASSACHUSETTS. (Cor. Sept. 1878.) Barnstable Co., Jos. M. Day, Barnstable. | Hampden Co., Wm. S. Shurtleff, Springf'. Berkshire Co., J. T. Robinson, No. Adams. Bristol Co., Edm. H. Bennett, Taunton, Dukes Co., Joseph T. Pease, Edgartown. Essex Co., Geo. F. Choate, Salem. Franklin Co., C. C. Conant, Greenfield. Hampshire Co., William G. Bassett, Easthampton.

Norfolk Co., G. White, Newton L. Falls.
Plymouth Co., Wm.H.Wood, Middleboro'.
Suffolk Co., John W. McKim, Boston.
Worcester Co., Henry Chapin, Worcester.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' MEETINGS IN MASSACHUSETTS.
(Corrected Sept. 1878. Legislature meets in January, and may make changes.)
Barnstable, at Barnstable, on the 2d
Tues. of April and Oct.

Berkshire, at Pittsfield, on 1st Tu. of
Apl., July, and Sept., and last Tu. Dec.
Bristol, at Taunton, on the 4th Tues.
of March and Sept.

Dukes Co., at Edgartown, on the Wed. next after the 3d Mon. of May, and the Wed. next after the 2d Mon. of Nov.

Essex, at Ipswich, on the 2d Tues. of April; at Salem, on the 2d Tues. of July; at Newburyport, on the 2d Tues. of Oct.; and at Lawrence, on the last Tues. of Aug.; and on the 4th Tues. of Dec., at Ipswich, Salem, or Newburyport, as they shall order at their next preceding term. Franklin, at Greenfield, on the 1st Tues. of March and Sept., and the 2d Tues. of June and Dec.

Hampden, at Springfield, on the 2d Tues. of April, the 1st Tues. of Oct., and the 4th Tues. of June and Dec.

Hampshire, at Northampton, on the 1st Tu. of Mar., Sept., and Dec., and on the Tues. next after the 2d Mon. of June.

Middlesex, at Cambridge, on the 1st Tues. of Jan., and the 1st Tues. of June; and at Lowell, on the 1st Tues. of Sept.

Nantucket, 1st Wed. of each month. Norfolk, at Dedham, on the 3d Tues. of April, the 4th Tues. of June and Sept., and the last Wed, of Dec.

Plymouth, at Plymouth, on the 1st Tues. of Jan., the 3d Tues. of March, and the 1st Tues. of Aug.

Worcester, at Worcester, on the 4th Tu. of March, the 3d Tu. of June, the 2d Tu. of Sept., and the 4th Tu. of Dec.

Grass Mixtures.

THE first settlers on these shores sowed no grass-seed, but relied on the spontaneous growth of the salt marshes and the inland swamps. The first step of progress was to use the seed from the bottom of haystacks and haymows. Years after, a few seeds were cleaned by winnowing; but it is scarcely more than half a century since it was the custom to limit the quantity of seed to twelve quarts, of which eight quarts were usually timothy, and the balance clover. Then the most common mixture came to consist of timothy and redtop almost exclusively, some farmers adding clover, but seldom any other seed. Clover blossoms early, usually about the middle of June; but timothy and redtop are both late grasses. One objection to this mixture is that clover comes into condition to cut long before the timothy and redtop; but a far more serious objection is, that the number of species is too limited. Other things being equal, a large number of species will produce a better crop than a small number. Nature is a good guide in this respect, for, if we examine the turf of an old field or pasture, we shall find a large number of species, often fifteen or twenty, growing in close connection.

But the special point we wish to make is, that for mowing-lots, cultivated for hay, we ought to regulate the selection of seed by the time of blossoming, that period of growth being agreed upon as the time when grass ought to be cut for hay, as then it contains its maximum amount of nutriment, which rapidly diminishes after the plant has passed this stage of growth. We would earnestly recommend sowing the early grasses together, and the late ones by themselves. A few species may properly be included in both mixtures, as their usual time of blossoming is intermediate, between the early and late species.

For an early mixture, we would take orchard grass as the basis. That blossoms by the middle of June or before, and it is one of the best grasses for hay on account of its luxuriant growth, its intrinsic nutritive qualities, and its habit of starting very rapidly after being cut or fed off by stock. It endures shade, too, better than most of our grasses, and this is a valuable characteristic. To orchard-grass seed we would add June grass, which is the same as Kentucky blue grass, one of our most common and valuable pasture grasses, worth less, perhaps, for hay, as it requires three or four years to reach its perfection and form a close sward. It blossoms very early, about the same time with orchard grass, and ought to be sown with it. Then we would add also perennial rye-grass, and especially the tall oat-grass. This last (the tall oat-grass) is not appreciated as it deserves to be. On rich and mellow land it is astonishing what crops it will produce. We saw it last season growing with the utmost luxuriance nearly six feet high, and it made the best of hay. We would also add a few pounds of meadow fescue. That is a common grass with us, makes good hay, and is worthy of a far more general cultivation. With these, clover can be grown with great advantage, as it blossoms about the same time. Then we should have the mixture as follows: orchard grass, June grass, perennial rye-grass, tall oat-grass, meadow fescue, and red clover and alsike clover, – very good mixture for early haying. All these seeds can be procured in any quantity and at reasonable prices. The seedsman can advise as to the particular quantity of each, depending a little on the soil and location.

-a

For a late mixture there is nothing better than timothy as a basis. We would use timothy, redtop, Rhode Island bent, meadow fescue, tall oat-grass, and alsike-clover. The incadow fescue and tall oat-grass would blossom a little earlier than redtop and timothy, and a little later than orchard and June grass, but the difference would not be very great, probably; and they are excellent additions to both mixtures.

The great advantage of these mixtures is, that they would produce grasses that are fit to cut at the same time. Another great gain is, that they spread the work over a longer season: some fields will be early and some late. This gives a chance to keep along with the hoeing, and that is not to be overlooked. The hay will be better than if early and late grasses are mixed together. If you mix clover with timothy and redtop, the clover will be mostly out of blossom when the other grasses are just coming into this condition. If you mix orchard grass with timothy, the former will be dead-ripe, and worthless for hay, when the latter is in blossom, while the timothy will hardly show itself at all, when the orchard grass is in blossom and fit to cut. These mixtures are for mowing-lots. For pastures the object should be to get a constant succession of growth; and the proper way is to sow all the kinds of grasses we can get.

The Massachusetts Agricultural College.

So much unjust and unmerited criticism has been heaped upon this young institution, that it seems proper to allude to its origin, its purposes, and its results. In 1862, in the midst of the rebellion, Congress passed an act giving each State thirty thousand acres of land scrip for each member of the Senate and House, for the purpose of establishing a college of agriculture and mechanic arts, with a condition that military science and tactics should be taught as a part of the course in all institutions organized under this grant. That act offered to this State 360,000 acres of the public lands, and the offer was accepted by the legislature, the scrip sold, and the proceeds appropriated to the purpose for which they were designed.

A farm consisting of nearly four hundred acres was purchased in the town of Amherst. The legislature, in accepting the grant, made it a condition that the college should be located in some town that would raise the sum of seventyfive thousand dollars for the erection of buildings, &c.; and the trustees appointed were confined in their selection to such towns as complied with that condition. This condition was undoubtedly a serious, if not a fatal mistake, not of the trustees but of the legislature. It would have been vastly better to have left the trustees free to select a location which would have been best, all things considered, for the future interests of the institution.

The college was located in the town of Amherst, the buildings erected, and the doors opened for students in 1867. The first class graduated in 1871, and the number of graduates already numbers one hundred and fifty. The course of study differs from that of our older colleges in that the natural sciences constitute its basis, in contradistinction from classical culture — the leading idea in the curriculum of all those institutions. It remains to be seen, perhaps, whether this is not a better foundation on which to build up an education for the practical work of life. Certain it is that the Agricultural College has done most admirable work, that ought to be better understood and appreciated by the community. It has supplied a want that was long felt by the farmers of the State, and has given a substantial and most useful education to many who could never have availed themselves of the facilities offered by other colleges, on account of the expense to be incurred. It has done much, by means of scientific experiments, to elevate and dignify farming pursuits, and to bring a higher degree of intelligence to bear upon the operations of the farm. Its shortcomings may be ascribed chiefly to the want of sufficient funds.

Barn Manure the Main-Stay.

THE extensive use of chemical fertilizers upon the farms of New England is certainly an indication of great progress in farming; but it ought not, and it probably will not, lead any one to give up his faith in that old stand-by known as stable manure. It is a good thing in itself; that is, if it is properly managed. We cannot help making a certain quantity of it, but we ought to take the utmost pains to make as much of it as we can make with profit, to keep as many animals as the farm can well carry, and to feed them with some reference to the quality of the manure we expect to make from them.

Possibly a farm can be kept up by the use of chemical fertilizers. We will not deny that it can be. But for the mass of farmers, who understand the use of stable manures, and who know, or ought to know, about what they will do, and who do not know so well how to manipulate and to apply chemicals, or what they can be expected to do when they are applied, stable manures must be the great stand-by. It can very rarely do any harm when it is applied with ordinary care, which cannot always be said of chemical fertilizers.

We want to see greater skill in the handling and treatment of stable manures, so as to increase the quantity and promote the efficiency of all the waste products of the farm, and it is a question whether we cannot judiciously feed our stock more liberally with reference to this end. Why is it that we export such quantities of linseed and cottonseed meal, which the farmers of England eagerly buy to feed their cows upon? If they are profitable to them, after paying three or four thousand miles of transportation, why are they not more profitable to us? Let us buy them and try them, with a reasonable confidence that they are just as good for American as they are for English cows. Let us adopt the plan of a little higher feeding, with a certainty that we shall get it all back again in some shape or other.